Collagen fibril diameter and its relation to collagen turnover in three soft connective tissues in the rat

Collagen fibril diameters were measured in electron micrographs of rat skin, gingiva and periodontal ligament. Gingiva was divided into two zones, termed elastin-containing gingiva and attached gingiva, depending on the presence or absence of elastic fibrils. The results revealed that skin had the largest fibrils, followed by elastin-containing gingiva, attached gingiva and periodontal ligament respectively. These differences in fibril diameter were highly significant. The observed trend in fibril diameter was the inverse of that documented for collagen turnover and collagen phagocytosis in the same tissues. A link between fibril diameter and collagen turnover is discussed.